25. Finally, a Wet Race!

Drew Gibson/Getty ImagesRosberg's car throws up spray near the beginning of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

There was not a single wet race in the 2013 F1 season. Before Hungary this year, the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix was the last rainy race.

Although it did not really rain during the Hungarian Grand Prix, a downpour just before the start forced drivers to start on intermediate tyres. As the track dried, several drivers were caught out, producing one of the most exciting grands prix in years.

22. Luca di Montezemolo and His Taxi Drivers

Paul Gilham/Getty ImagesLuca di Montezemolo

Just before the start of the season, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo was complaining about the need to conserve tyres and fuel under the new regulations and said, "I don't like his sort of taxi-cab driving," per Autosprint (via Autosport, translation by Michele Lostia).

Since then, we have been treated to one of the most exciting F1 seasons in recent memory. Meanwhile, Di Montezemolo continues to try to fix the sport.

20. Formula 1 Returns to Austria

Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesThe 2014 Austrian Grand Prix.

After years of holding new races in every corner of the globe, F1 returned to a more traditional location this year. The Red Bull Ring, as it is now known, hosted the first Austrian Grand Prix since 2003.

The race was a success, with big crowds, a beautiful setting, an exciting track and good racing. How about a return to France, next?

19. New Teams Added for 2015 and 2016

Jared C. Tilton/Getty ImagesGene Haas

It has been more than four years since Marussia, Caterham and HRT started in F1 (the first two, under different names).

Now, two new teams are on the way. Gene Haas, already the owner of a NASCAR team, is planning to debut his new American F1 team in 2016. Meanwhile, the Romanian Forza Rossa team might be ready for 2015, per Fox Sports.

Two new teams means more opportunities for drivers and, hopefully, more competition up and down the grid.

15. Kevin Magnussen's Podium Debut

At the Australian Grand Prix, Magnussen became the first driver since Hamilton in 2007 to finish on the podium in his first race (coincidentally, both were McLaren drivers).

Magnussen originally finished third, but he was promoted to second following Ricciardo's disqualification. It may have been a false dawn, though, as the Dane has not finished higher than seventh since that race.

13. 'Felipe, Valtteri Is Faster Than You'

At the Malaysian Grand Prix, Felipe Massa refused to yield to his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, when he received the message from the pit wall that, "Valtteri is faster than you—do not hold him up."

His defiance may have had something to do with the choice of wording. At the 2010 German Grand Prix, Massa—who was leading the race—was asked by Ferrari in nearly identical words to give up his place to Fernando Alonso. On that occassion, the Brazilian complied.

12. FRIC Ban

Christopher Lee/Getty ImagesFerrari mechanics at work

One of the major talking points of the season has been controlling costs, as some of the smaller teams continue to struggle.

So, in the middle of the season, the FIA decided to ban front-to-rear interconnected suspension (FRIC) systems. The ban was in effect for the Hungarian Grand Prix, meaning that the teams had to spend more money to redesign their suspensions.

It is not yet apparent whether the changes will have any effect on the relative competitiveness of the teams, and Hungary was not a good test because of the weather conditions and safety cars.

11. Daniel Ricciardo's Australian Grand Prix Disqualification

Daniel Ricciardo could not have hoped for a better Red Bull debut than he had at the Australian Grand Prix. He qualified second, ahead of Nico Rosberg, and then finished the race in the same position, becoming the first Australian to finish on the podium in his home race.

And then it all disappeared.

Shortly after the race, it was announced that Ricciardo was under investigation for breaching the new fuel-flow limit. Five hours after the chequered flag, the Australian was disqualified.

Red Bull appealed the decision, but it was upheld. Maybe Ricciardo can aim for the win next year in Melbourne.

10. Jules Bianchi and Marussia's 1st Points

Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesBianchi in Monaco

For more than four years, Marussia and Caterham (and, before the team folded, HRT) toured around the back of the field, rarely even threatening to crack the top 10. Then, in Monaco, a perfect storm of retirements, Marussia's increased pace and Jules Bianchi's boldness allowed the team to score their first points.

As the retirements mounted early in the race, Caterham's Kamui Kobayashi was originally positioned the best to take advantage of the situation. But then, Bianchi seized the initiative, forcing his way past the Japanese driver at La Rascasse.

From there, the Frenchman held on and, assisted by an ill-advised attempted pass by Raikkonen into the hairpin, finished ninth. Those points currently have Marussia ahead of Sauber, as well as Caterham, in the Constructors' Championship, and in line for a big payday.

9. Sebastian Vettel Twice Told to Let Daniel Ricciardo Through

Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty ImagesRicciardo leads Vettel in Canada.

In Bahrain, Red Bull ordered their defending champion, Sebastian Vettel, to let his new teammate, Ricciardo, through. The German allowed Ricciardo to pass him and finished the race sixth, two spots behind his teammate.

Two weeks later, in China, the same call came from the pit wall. The first request had been justified by the fact that the two drivers were on different tyres. In China, when he was told Ricciardo had the same tyres as him, Vettel's response was succinct: "Tough luck."

Eventually, he did let the Australian pass and once again finished behind him. In fact, that has become the norm for Red Bull. In the seven races both drivers have finished, Vettel has beaten Ricciardo just once.

8. Lewis Hamilton Wins at Home

Since 2000, the British Grand Prix had only been won once by a British driver—Lewis Hamilton in 2008. This year, Hamilton qualified sixth and, assisted by Rosberg's retirement, won the race in front of the packed Silverstone grandstands.

Rosberg also won his home race (although there is no home advantage in F1), in Germany, but the half-empty grandstand (and the fact that he had already celebrated a "home win" in Monaco), means only Hamilton's win makes our list.

7. Daniel Ricciardo's Maiden Victory

For the first six-and-a-half races of the season, it looked like no one would ever catch Mercedes. And then, in the middle of the Canadian Grand Prix, both Silver Arrows were suddenly crippled with the same problem with their energy-recovery systems.

Hamilton soon retired, while Rosberg saw a huge lead evaporate before he was eventually passed by Red Bull's Ricciardo. When Massa and Perez collided on the final lap, bringing out the safety car, the Australian's first victory was assured.

Ricciardo, with his ever-present smile, was a popular winner—more so because he broke the stranglehold Mercedes had held on the season.

6. Nico Rosberg's Monaco Qualifying Error

As the drivers were starting their final flying qualifying laps in Monaco, Rosberg held the provisional pole position ahead of Hamilton.

Rosberg was ahead on the track, and heading into Mirabeau, he seemed to lock his brakes for a moment and then, instead of trying to take the corner, he drove straight ahead into a run-off section. The resulting yellow flags meant Hamilton could not improve his time and guaranteed the all-important pole position for Rosberg.

Hamilton was not happy, suggesting that Rosberg had caused the yellow flags on purpose, and he was even more upset the following day when Rosberg took the victory, ending Hamilton's four-race winning streak.

Since Monaco, the rivalry between Hamilton and Rosberg has been decidedly less friendly.

5. Lewis Hamilton Defies Mercedes Team Orders

In Hungary—with Hamilton leading Rosberg, but the German needing to make one more pit stop—Mercedes asked Hamilton to move aside for his teammate.

Hamilton—rightly—refused, telling the team, "I'm not slowing down for Nico. If he gets close enough to overtake, he can overtake," per ESPN F1.

Team orders are fine when one driver has a real shot at the championship, and his teammate is expected to support him. In this case, though, with both drivers fighting for the title, it was a mistake for Mercedes to ask Hamilton to let Rosberg through.

4. Fernando Alonso vs. Sebastian Vettel at Silverstone

At Silverstone, two former world champions without championship aspirations this year duelled as though the title was on the line.

Their battle was not only a brilliant display of driving skill, but it was also a wonderful example of sportsmanship, with each man leaving just enough space for his opponent at every turn. Or at least it would have been a wonderful example of sportsmanship, if the pit radios had been muted.

Unfortunately, in the midst of the race, television viewers were treated to repeated calls from each driver to have the other one penalised for running wide on certain corners.

Thankfully, neither driver received a penalty, and we can enjoy the replays on mute.

3. Daniel Ricciardo's Overtaking Manoeuvres to Win in Hungary

Darko Vojinovic/Associated PressRicciardo homes in on a Mercedes in Hungary.

Overtaking is anything but easy on the narrow, slow Hungaroring—think Monaco, without the glamour of the Cote d'Azur. This year's race was an exception, though, thanks to a wet start and two safety cars that mixed up the field.

Ricciardo made the most spectacular of the many passes in the Hungarian Grand Prix, taking second place from Hamilton around the outside of Turn 2 just three laps from the finish. By itself, that move was incredible, but it probably would not have been enough to make our list.

On the next lap, though, Ricciardo passed another world champion, Alonso, to secure his second victory in five races. The win also extended his surprising lead over his teammate, the defending champion Vettel, to 43 points.

2. Lewis Hamilton vs. Nico Rosberg in Bahrain

In Bahrain, Hamilton and Rosberg went wheel-to-wheel on the track for the first time this year, and it was a real treat to watch. They battled for the lead early in the race, but that was just an appetizer for the final 10 laps.

After a safety car (thanks to—you guessed it—Pastor Maldonado) bunched up the field late in the race, Mercedes technical director Paddy Lowe begged his charges to bring their cars home in one piece.

That did not stop Rosberg from harassing Hamilton for the last 10 laps. Several times the two Silver Arrows were side-by-side, but somehow they managed not to touch. In the end, Hamilton held on for his second of four straight victories.

1. Mercedes Takes a Creative Approach with Their Turbocharger

This moment occurred before the 2014 F1 season began, but it has defined everything that has happened this year and, as such, is the top moment of the season so far.

At some point, while the 2014 cars and power units were being developed, a Mercedes engineer said something like, "What if we split the turbocharger?"

The team did, and it led to the development of the most powerful engine on the grid. Mercedes have won nine of 11 races and have commanding leads in both championships—thanks mostly to that revolutionary power unit design.

Follow me on Twitter for updates when I publish a new article and for other (mostly) F1-related news and banter: